The Express claim that reports from Spanish newspaper AS, suggesting that the Red Devils may have lowered their £35m valuation of his current No.1, are incorrect. The British tabloid state that, in fact, Louis van Gaal remains adamant on the price that Los Blancos must pay to secure De Gea’s signature.

According to the Express, van Gaal is determined not to freely allow the stopper to leave Old Trafford, and is prepared to force the keeper to see out the final year of his Manchester United contract – despite the risk of losing him for free next summer.

If the price-tag is met and the 24-year-old is granted a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, the former Atletico Madrid star would become the most expensive goalkeeper in transfer history – surpassing the £32m that Juventus paid Palermo for Gianluigi Buffon [via Sky Sports].

It was stated on Tuesday, by the Times, that De Gea was desperate to avoid the awkwardness of returning to United’s Carrington training ground for pre-season on Monday, and was therefore eager for his return to the Spanish capital to be completed before his team-mates regroup next week.

It seems, however, that there is still much negotiating to be completed before his possible return to Spain can be confirmed.